US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US Federal House Bill HB76

Introduced
1/3/25  
Refer
1/3/25  

Caption

Fund and Complete the Border Wall ActThis bill establishes funding for a U.S.-Mexico border barrier and revises how border patrol agents are compensated for overtime.The Department of the Treasury shall set up an account for funding the design, construction, and maintenance of the barrier. The funds in the account are appropriated only for that purpose and for vehicles and equipment for border patrol agents.For each fiscal year, financial assistance to a country shall be reduced by $2,000 for each citizen or national of that country apprehended for illegally entering the United States through its southern border. The reduced amount shall be transferred to the border barrier account. The Department of State may opt not to reduce amounts appropriated to Mexico for various military and law enforcement-related activities.This bill establishes a 5% fee on foreign remittance transfers and increases the fee for the arrival/departure I-94 form for various aliens entering the United States, with part of the fees going to the border barrier account.By December 31, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security shall (1) take all actions necessary, including constructing barriers, to prevent illegal crossings along the U.S.-Mexico barrier; and (2) achieve operational control over all U.S. international borders.The bill changes how border patrol agents receive overtime pay when working up to 100 hours in a two-week period. For hours worked above 80, an agent shall receive at least 150% of the agent's regular hourly rate.

Impact

The bill significantly impacts federal funding mechanisms for border security efforts and aims to centralize resources dedicated to constructing physical barriers. It also includes provisions to increase processing fees for certain border entry forms, which further contribute to the fund. The expected outcome of this bill is to streamline and enhance border security initiatives, which supporters argue is essential for national security. However, it may also lead to increased costs for individuals seeking to cross the border legally, thereby raising concerns about accessibility and fairness.

Summary

House Bill 76, titled the 'Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act,' proposes the establishment of the 'Secure the Southern Border Fund.' This fund is intended to hold deposits specifically allocated for enhancing border security along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill mandates that the Secretary of the Treasury create this fund within 60 days of enactment, and it will be available for construction, maintenance, and operational expenses relating to barriers along the border, with a stipulation that no more than 5% of the funds may be used for purchasing equipment for Border Patrol agents.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB76 include the implications of introducing fees for remittance transfers tied to border security funding. The bill imposes a 5% fee on remittance transfers sent outside the U.S., which has faced criticism from advocates concerned about how this could disproportionately affect low-income families who rely on remittances for survival. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the environmental impact and community effects of constructing barriers along the already contentious border region, which could lead to potential legal challenges and disputes between federal and state jurisdictions.

Congress_id

119-HR-76

Policy_area

Immigration

Introduced_date

2025-01-03

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US SB42

Build the Wall Act of 2025This bill establishes the Southern Border Wall Construction Fund to be used by the Department of Homeland Security to construct and maintain physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. All unobligated amounts in the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds must be immediately deposited in the Southern Border Wall Construction Fund.

US HB445

Border Security Investment ActThis bill imposes a fee on the electronic transfer of funds (i.e., remittances) sent to certain countries and provides funding for border security activities from the collected amounts.Specifically, the fee shall apply to remittances sent through money services business to one of the five countries that had the most citizens or nationals unlawfully enter the United States in the previous fiscal year, as determined by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The fee must be 37% of the amount sent.Half of the money collected by the fee must be placed in a trust fund for reimbursing border states for expenses incurred for border security enforcement measures. The other half must be placed in another trust fund for (1) deploying technology and installing physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, and (2) paying the wages and salaries of U.S. Border Patrol agents.If the amount in the trust funds exceeds a certain threshold, the excess money must be used only for deficit reduction.

US HB326

Border Wall Waste Accountability ActThis bill requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the total cost of unused construction materials that were obtained for construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall from January 20, 2021, through January 20, 2025.

US SB112

Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to remove certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) from the United States while such an individual's application for admission is pending.Specifically, if such an individual arrived by land from a foreign country bordering the United States and the individual is not clearly and beyond a doubt entitled to admission into the United States, DOJ must return that individual to that bordering foreign country while the individual's application for admission is pending. (Currently, DOJ may choose to detain such an individual or return the individual to the bordering foreign country while the application for admission is pending.)

US SB2841

Relating to the route designation for a permit for the movement of oversize and overweight vehicles that serve a deepwater seaport in a county that borders the United Mexican States.

US HB506

Security First ActThis bill reauthorizes the Operation Stonegarden program from FY2025 through FY2028 and addresses other border security issues. (Operation Stonegarden provides grants to enhance the border security capabilities of state, local, and tribal governments.)From FY2025 through FY2028, the money from unreported monetary instruments seized from individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and transferred into the Department of the Treasury general fund shall be made available without further appropriation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to fund Operation Stonegarden.DHS must report to Congress on (1) DHS hiring practices from 2018 to 2024, and (2) whether certain criminal gangs and Mexican drug cartels meet the criteria to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. DHS must also periodically report to Congress about the technology needed to secure the U.S.-Mexico land border.

US SB41

Advanced Border Coordination Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish at least two Joint Operations Centers along the U.S.-Mexico border. The centers shall provide centralized operations hubs for (1) coordinating operations between federal, state, local, and tribal agencies as needed; and (2) coordinating and supporting border operations, including detecting criminal activity, such as activity related to transnational criminal organizations and illegal border crossings.

US HB424

State Border Security Reimbursement Act of 2025 This bill requires the federal government to reimburse eligible states for their border security expenses.To be eligible, a state must have expended more than $2.5 billion on border security and enforcement in the 10 years before this bill's enactment. If such a state provides by a certain deadline an accounting of all of its nonfederally funded border security expenses, the federal government must reimburse the full amount.

US HJR34

Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.

US HJR77

Establishing that it shall be the policy of the Government of the United States to recognize the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within that nation's internationally recognized borders as established in 1991.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.